ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Pricing of Natural Gas
Government of India notified “New Domestic Natural Gas Pricing Guidelines, 2014” on 25.10.2014. The pricing mechanism is formula based and has been worked out considering the volumes and prices prevailing at major international markets such as Henry Hub, National Balancing Point, Alberta and Russia. The formula has been finalized considering the requirements/interests of producing and consuming sectors. The prices are notified after every six months in accordance with said guidelines. In addition, the Government has provided pricing and marketing freedom under Discovered Small Field Policy , gas discoveries in Deep-water, Ultra Deep-water and High Pressure-High Temperature areas, Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy  and Coal Bed Methane  contracts.
The gas prices also have witnessed an increasing trend during the last 2 years. The prices as on 1.4.2017 were US$ 2.48 per Million British Thermal Unit  on Gross Calorific Value  basis, which have increased to US$ 3.69/MMBTU as on 1.4.2019. Cost of production of natural gas depends on several factors such as location  of gas field, quality and composition of produced gas, gas type - whether associated or non-associated gas, age and size of the gas field, type of reservoir, logistics, availability of surface facilities, exchange rate, etc. Since factors which affect cost of production are unique to each gas field, cost of production of gas varies from field to field. Further, ONGC accounts have also shown increased profits, i.e., Profit after Tax of ONGC was Rs.16,004 crore in Financial Year 2015-16, Rs.17,900 crore in Financial Year 2016-17, Rs.19,945 crore in Financial Year 2017-18 and Rs.26,716 crore in 2018-19.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
Chief of Army Staff Proceeds on a Three Day Visit to Bangladesh
Continuing with the excellent bilateral defence ties between India and Bangladesh, General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff  has proceeded on a visit to the Bangladesh from 18 to 20 July 2022. This is the first foreign visit by General Manoj Pande since assumption as Army Chief.
The Army Chief will commence his visit by paying tributes to the brave-hearts who made the supreme sacrifice during the Liberation War of 1971 by laying a wreath at the Shikha Anirban on 18 July 2022. During the day, the COAS will be carrying out multiple meetings with senior officials of the security establishment and exchange views on various defence related issues. He will also pay tributes to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi
On the second day of his visit, the Army Chief will address the students and faculty of Defence Services Command & Staff College, Mirpur. He will thereafter visit and interact with the members of Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support and Operation Training , a premier institute of Bangladesh which trains peacekeepers for employment in various UN Peace Operations. This will be followed by a visit to the Bangabandhu Military Museum at Mirpur.
The visit of the COAS will further deepen the bilateral relationships between the two Armies and act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation between the two countries on a host of strategic issues.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
NHA joined hands with NABH to expedite implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission 
National Health Authority  and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers  - a constituent board of Quality Council of India  have signed a Memorandum of Understanding  to collaborate in the areas of capacity building, dissemination of information, promotion of QCI  accreditation & ABDM standards, technical support, stakeholder advocacy and for creating overall awareness for different initiatives of NABH and NHA by leveraging the reach and presence of each other.
NABH has an extensive and efficient quality framework and accreditation system for healthcare facilities. As per this MoU, NABH shall encourage and provide assistance in onboarding their accredited/certified facilities on ABDM’s Health Facility Registry  and onboarding of the doctors, nurses etc. working in these facilities on the Healthcare Professionals Registry .
Speaking about the objective of this collaboration, Dr. R. S. Sharma, CEO, NHA said – “With the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission , we have embarked on this ambitious journey to create a digital platform for bringing all stakeholders of the healthcare ecosystem together. We aim to leverage the strong presence of NABH among the health facilities and healthcare professionals from the public as well as private sector to reach out and sensitize them about the core functions, benefits and potential of ABDM and drive the adoption of ABDM on a large scale.”
Speaking on the occasion, Prof  Mahesh Verma, Chairman, NABH said - "NABH is totally committed to objective of taking quality healthcare to the last man in the line. This collaboration with NHA will help and motivate even small healthcare organizations in tier 2 & tier 3 cites to get the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It will spread the mission of providing quality healthcare to the masses and help India become a global leader in healthcare domain”.
Further, NHA and NABH shall mutually develop accreditation standards and ratings for healthcare facilities to incorporate ABDM related standards for encouraging rapid adoption and uptake of digital health information systems.
Special Service and Features
Department of Telecommunications initiatives to curb Cyber Crimes
Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, under Phase II of ASTR ,an indigenously developed tool,had identified 5662 mobile connections suspected to have been issued /taken fraudulently in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu License Service Area , a DoT field unit at Chennai has analyzed all these connections and took actions based on the outcome of the re-verification of mobile connections, a process undertaken to check the bona-fide customer is/are using the connection by the respective Telecom Service Providers, which resulted in identifying 4831 non-bonafide connections. TN LSA had ensured that all these non-bonafide mobile connections got disconnected by the respective TSPs. As per the instructions /directions issued by DoT, TSPs have taken necessary action accordingly such as blacklisting the Point of Sales involved in sale of SIMs withfake/forged documents, lodging of Police Complaintsetc.
The details of such connections along with Point of Sales information and action taken by Telecom Service Providers have been conveyed to Cyber Crime Wing of Tamil Nadu Police for further investigation.
Earlier under ASTR Phase I, more than 50,000 non-bonafide mobile connections were disconnected by TSPs and further Tamil Nadu Police had undertaken strong action on fraudsters involved in issue of non-bonafide mobile connections.
The steps taken by Department of Telecommunications through its ASTR platform has resulted in curbing cyber crimes in Tamil Nadu.
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
PMEGP Generated Over 11 Lakh Employments in Last Three Years
Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, PMEGP is estimated to have generated over 11,13, 000 employments during the last three years i.e. 2015-16 to 2017-18. This information was given by Minister of state for Micro,Smalland Medium Enterprises, Shri Giriraj Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today. PMEGP is a credit linked subsidy scheme, for setting up of new micro-enterprises and to generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas of the country through KVIC, State Khadi & Village Industries Board  and District Industries Centre . Under the PMEGP, general category beneficiaries can avail of margin money subsidy of 25% of the project cost in rural areas and 15% in urban areas. For beneficiaries belonging to SC/ST/Women/PH/Minorities/Ex-Servicemen/NER, the margin money subsidy is 35% in rural areas and 25% in urban areas. The maximum cost of projects is Rs.25 lakh in the manufacturing sector and Rs.10 lakh in the service sector.
The Minister further said that in order to revive the sick Khadi Institutions, Khadi and Village Industries Commission  implements ‘Strengthening of Infrastructure of Existing Weak Khadi Institutions and assistance for Marketing Infrastructure’ scheme. The scheme is meant to meet the need based support to the sick Khadi Institutions which have potential to attain normalcy. The minister however said that there is no plan to reopen the closed Khadi Gramodyog centres situated amongst different panchayats of the country. He said various schemes have been implemented and progressive works done for the Khadi and Village Industries during the last three years. Meanwhile sales performance of entire sector under Khadi and Village Industries has increased from Rs. 41894.56 crore in 2015-16 to Rs. 60451.28 crore in 2017-18, according to provisional details. In reply to another question, Shri Giriraj Singh stated that the new model Charkhas give good quality yarn and enhanced wages to the Khadi artisans due to increase of production capacity.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister to visit Uttar Pradesh tomorrow
6th International Rice Research Institute to be dedicated to the nation at Varanasi
PM to unveil postage stamp on Suheldeo & address a public rally in Ghazipur
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh on 29th December, 2018. During the visit, he will dedicate the 6th International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre  campus to the nation in Varanasi and attend the One District, One Product Regional Summit at Deendayal Hastakala Sankul in Varanasi. A commemorative postal stamp on the Maharaja Suheldeo will be released by the Prime Minister in Ghazipur where he will also address a public rally..
The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation - International Rice Research Institute , South Asia Regional Center  at campus of National Seed Research and Training Center  in Varanasi. It will serve as a hub for rice research and training in South Asia and SAARC region. The first international Center in the eastern India is expected to play a major role in harnessing and sustaining rice production in the region.
India’s association with IRRI dates back to 1960s,and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first Indian PM to visit IRRI headquarters in Manila, Philippines in November 2017, where he discussed agricultural innovations and research advances for the rice sector.
Shri Modi will attend the One District, One Product Regional Summit at Deendayal Hastakala Sankul  in Varanasi. ‘One District One Product’ scheme is aimed at enhancing the skills of local people and increasing the reach of the indigenous trades, crafts and products from small towns and small districts in the state. These include handicrafts, food processing, engineering goods, carpets, readymade clothes, leather goods etc which not only earn foreign exchange but also provide employment to the people.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
BIS, Mumbai officials conduct Enforcement Search and Seizure operation at Bhiwandi, Thane
Mumbai, 24 March 2022
A team of Officials from Bureau of Indian Standards , Mumbai conducted an Enforcement Search and Seizure operation on 22.03.2022 at Bhiwandi, Thane to check the violation of Quality Control Order on “Recessed LED Luminaires- of Down Lights/ Panel Lights ” as per IS 10322 : part 5 : sec 2 : 2012.
During the raid at the premises of M/s. Chetak Enterprises, UlhasNagar-421003, Thane, Maharashtra was found violating the Electronics and Information Technology Goods  order dated 18.03.2021. About sufficient quantity of Recessed LED Luminaires of Down Lights/ Panel Lights were seized per IS 10322 : part 5 : sec 2 : 2012.
The misuse of BIS Standard Mark is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or a fine of minimum Rs. 2,00,000 or both as per BIS Act 2016. Action is being initiated to file a case in the court of law for the offence. It has been observed many times that fake ISI marked products are manufactured and sold to consumers for huge profit.
Therefore, all are requested to ascertain the genuineness of ISI Mark on the product before making purchase, by visiting BIS website http://www.bis.gov.in. Citizens are requested that in case they come across any instance of misuse of ISI Mark on any product, the same may be informed to the Head, MUBO-II, Western Regional Office, BIS, Manakalaya, E9, Behind Marol Telephone Exchange, Andheri , Mumbai - 400 093. Such complaints can also be made by E-mail at the address hmubo2@bis.gov.in. The source of such information will be kept confidential.BIS PRO | PIB Mumbai | CP/DR
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Ministry of Defence
SIGNING OF SOP ON WHITE SHIPPING INFORMATION EXCHANGE BETWEEN INDIAN NAVY AND PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff and CG Admiral Artemio M Abu, Commandant of Philippine Coast Guard signed the Standard Operating Procedure  for exchange of White Shipping Information on 23 August 2023. The SOP was signed in New Delhi during ongoing visit of the Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard to India.
The signing of the SOP between Philippine Coast Guard and Indian Navy would facilitate operationalization of information exchange on merchant shipping traffic, which will contribute to enhanced maritime safety and security in the region.
Prime Minister's Office
PM interacts with beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, interacted with the beneficiariesof Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana and store owners of Jan Aushadi Kendras, through video conference. The Union Government had decided to celebrate 7th March 2019 as ‘Jan Aushadhi Diwas’ across India, for creating awareness and providing impetus onthe use of generic medicines.
Interacting with beneficiaries and store owners from over 5000 locations, the Prime Minister said that in order to ensure the availability of high quality medicines at lower prices, Government had taken two major steps. First, the cost of 850 essential medicines were regulated and the prices of heart stent and equipment for knee surgery were reduced. Second, a series of Jan Aushadi Kendras were started throughout the country. These steps have greatly benefitted not only the poor, but also the middle class, PM said.
The Prime Minister said that medicines are available at fifty to ninety percent lower price than the market rates at Jan Aushadi Kendras. He added that more than five thousand Jan Aushadi Kendras have been opened in the past four and half years. The Kendras provide not only good quality medicines but also provide self-employment and create new employment opportunities, PM said.
Speaking about the vision of holistic transformation of health sector, Prime Minister said that the approach of the Government is ‘No Silos- Only Solutions’. All the stake holders related to health sector are working together to transform the sector, PM said. He said that in the past four and half years, 15 new AIIMs have been either built or are being built and 31,000 MBBS and post-graduation seats in medical sector have been increased.
Interacting with the Prime Minister, the beneficiaries expressed happiness with the good quality of medicines available at Jan Aushadi Kendras. The beneficiaries mentioned that the low cost of the medicines have enabled them to save money while getting proper medication.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Kolkata largest cape size vessel with highest parcel load arrived at Sagar Anchorage in SMP Kolkata
The historical milestone was achieved at its zenith on 1st September, 2022 when ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’, cape vessel with an LOA of 299.92 mtrs. and a beam length of 50 mtrs on account of M/s Steel Authority of India Limited  arrived at Sagar Anchorage on 01.09.2022 to discharge 70,300 MT of Coking Coal by Floating Cranes. This is the largest dry bulker to arrive at anchorage with the highest ever parcel load.
Incidentally, ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’ is the 18th cape vessel in the current fiscal, while only four  cape vessels were handled till August in the last fiscal out of a total of fourteen  cape vessels, which were handled in 2021-22.
Cape vessel ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’ LOA 299.92m, beam 50 mtrs. and a draft of 9.3m registered at Portugal. The load port of the vessel was New Port, USA and the last port of call is Dhamra. Railway Division of Haldia is working in tandem with Marine Division for quick evacuation of cargo from the port and this is making HDC, the most preferred port of call which is 80 Miles away from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata  and 25 Miles away from Haldia Dock Complex .
After a long persuasion from the management of SMP Kolkata, SAIL has agreed to bring two  cape vessels per month and has a plan to mobilize cargo throughput of 1.5 MMT per annum at anchorages.
Calling of such a Cape Vessel ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’ at Sagar Anchorage at 9.3 metre draft is a laudable landmark in the history of SMP, Kolkata despite its natural constraint being saddled with the responsibility of maintaining such one of the longest and most unpredictable navigational channels in the world said Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP, Kolkata.
Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP, Kolkata stated that the arrival of ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’ is significant, not only for being the 1st Cape vessel at Sagar, but also for carrying 70,300 MT of cargo which otherwise would have been carried in 2-3 separate vessels.
Appreciating this significant achievement Shri Kumar further stated that despite SMP, Kolkata being the only rivering major port in the country, SMP, Kolkata has been consistently maintaining its pivotal position in Indian Major Ports for the last 152 years.
Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP, Kolkata emphatically said that with the active co-operation of port users, specially SAIL and whole hearted efforts of all employees SMP, Kolkata will be able to attain many other remarkable records.
MJPS
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Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Cabinet approves Policy Framework for exploration and exploitation of Unconventional Hydrocarbons
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the policy to permit exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons such as Shale oil/gas, Coal Bed Methane  etc. It will be carried out under the existing Production Sharing Contracts , CBM contracts and Nomination fields to encourage the existing Contractors in the licensed/leased area to unlock the potential of unconventional hydrocarbons in the existing acreages.
Benefits:
- This policy will enable the realization of prospective hydrocarbon reserves in the existing Contract Areas which otherwise would remain unexplored and unexploited.
- With this policy dispensation, new investment in Exploration and Production  activities and chances of finding new hydrocarbon discoveries and resultant increased domestic production thereof is expected.
- Exploration and exploitation of additional hydrocarbon resources is expected to spur new investment, impetus to economic activities, additional employment generation and thus benefitting various sections of society.
- This will lead to induction of new, innovative and cutting-edge technology and forging new technological collaboration to exploit unconventional hydrocarbons.
Background:
As per existing contractual regime of PSCs, existing Contractors are not allowed to explore and exploit CBM or other unconventional hydrocarbons in already allotted licensed/leased area. Similarly, CBM Contractors are not allowed to exploit any other hydrocarbon except CBM. Acreages held at present by various Contractors in PSCs and CBM blocks and National Oil Companies  in nomination regime constitute a significant part of India’s sedimentary basin.
In preliminary studies, ‘in place’ probable Shale gas resources in the range of 100-200 TCF in 5 Indian sedimentary basins have been assessed by various international agencies. Presence of Shale oil/gas has a strong possibility in basins such as Cambay, Krishna- Godavari , Cauvery etc. where mature organic rich Shale exist. An area of 72,027 sq. km. held under PSCs of Pre- New Exploration Licensing Policy /NELP regime and 5269 sq. km area under CBM contracts has been opened up for simultaneous exploration and exploitation of conventional or unconventional hydrocarbons. With the approval of this policy, there will be complete shift from ‘One hydrocarbon Resource Type’ to ‘Uniform Licensing Policy’ which is presently applicable in Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy  and Discovered Small Field  Policy.
The fiscal and contractual terms of the policy provide for ring-fencing of Petroleum Operations and cost recovery of new hydrocarbon discoveries in PSC block. Additional 10% rate of Profit Petroleum/ Production Level Payment  in case of CBM contract, over and above the existing rate of Profit Petroleum/PLP is to be shared with Government on new discoveries. For nomination blocks, NOCs will be allowed to explore and exploit unconventional hydrocarbons under the existing fiscal and contractual terms of exploration/lease license.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Department of Food & Public Distribution to organise activities to celebrate Poshan Maah
To commemorate the ‘Poshan Maah’ organised by Ministry of Women and Child Development, a meeting was taken today by Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution with CMD, Food Corporation of India, MD, CWC and senior officers of the department.
The Poshan Maah is observed every year in the month of September. As part of this, the DoFPD through its organisations have decided to organise activities as suggested by M/o Women and Child Development, in various parts of the country to sensitize the target groups on the merits of nutritional security.
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President arrives in Mumbai on his maiden visit to Maharashtra
VP prays at Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in the city
Shri Dhankhar attends 'Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup' Championship
The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar arrived in Mumbai today. This was Shri Dhankhar's maiden visit to the state of Maharashtra after assuming the office of the Vice President. At Mumbai airport, he was welcomed by Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister, Government of Maharashtra, and other dignitaries.
The Vice President began his Mumbai visit by performing puja at Shree Siddhivinayak Temple where he along with Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar prayed for the prosperity of the nation and the well-being of all citizens.
Shri Dhankhar then attended, as the Chief Guest, the annual 'Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup' Championship organized by the Amateur Riders’ Club and sponsored by Aditya Birla Group. After witnessing a gripping game, he interacted with the players and praised their spirit of sportsmanship.
Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Governor of Maharashtra, Smt. Rajashree Birla, the Chairperson of the FICCI – Aditya Birla CSR Centre for Excellence, Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, Shri Anand Piramal, Executive Director, Piramal Group and other dignitaries attended the sporting event.